Real rTMS (real + rtm)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Treatment of post-stroke dysphagia with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2009
E. M. Khedr
Background,,, Up to one-third of patients experience swallowing problems in the period immediately after a stroke. Objective,,, To investigate the therapeutic effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on post-stroke dysphagia. Materials and methods,,, Twenty-six patients with post-stroke dysphagia due to monohemispheric stroke were randomly allocated to receive real (n = 14) or sham (n = 12) rTMS of the affected motor cortex. Each patient received a total of 300 rTMS pulses at an intensity of 120% hand motor threshold for five consecutive days. Clinical ratings of dysphagia and motor disability were assessed before and immediately after the last session and then again after 1 and 2 months. The amplitude of the motor-evoked potential (MEP) evoked by single-pulse TMS was also assessed before and at 1 month in 16 of the patients. Results,,, There were no significant differences between patients who received real rTMS and the sham group in age, hand grip strength, Barthel Index or degree of dysphagia at the baseline assessment. Real rTMS led to a significantly greater improvement compared with sham in dysphagia and motor disability that was maintained over 2 months of follow-up. This was accompanied by a significant increase in the amplitude of the oesophageal MEP evoked from either the stroke or non-stroke hemisphere. Conclusion,,, rTMS may be a useful adjunct to conventional therapy for dysphagia after stroke. [source]


One-year follow up of patients with chronic tinnitus treated with left temporoparietal rTMS

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2009
E. M. Khedr
Background and purpose: Although there are a number of positive reports on the therapeutic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for treatment of tinnitus, there are few details about the duration of treatment effects or the relative efficiency of different rTMS protocols. Methods: Sixty six patients with chronic tinnitus were divided into four groups, receiving sham rTMS, 1, 10 and 25 Hz rTMS applied each day for 10 days over left temporoparietal cortex. They were followed up at 4 months and 1 year using the tinnitus questionnaire [Tinnitus Handicap Inventory(THI)] and self ratings of annoyance as well as measures of residual inhibition. Results: A two factor anova revealed a significant ,rTMS' × ,time' interaction indicating that real and sham rTMS had different effects on the THI scale and annoyance of tinnitus (P = 0.026 and 0.046 respectively). After 1 year, the tinnitus was absent in one or both ears of 10 patients who had received real rTMS: one of these was in the 1 Hz group, four patients were in the 10 Hz group and five patients were in the 25 Hz group. Conclusion: Some patients show a lasting benefit at 1 year after 10 days of rTMS treatment. It appears that treatment at 10 or 25 Hz may be more beneficial than at 1 Hz, although more work is necessary to validate this conclusion. [source]


Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease,

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 2 2009
a R. Filipovi
Abstract In a placebo-controlled, single-blinded, crossover study, we assessed the effect of "real" repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) versus "sham" rTMS (placebo) on peak dose dyskinesias in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Ten patients with PD and prominent dyskinesias had rTMS (1,800 pulses; 1 Hz rate) delivered over the motor cortex for 4 consecutive days twice, once real stimuli and once sham stimulation were used; evaluations were done at the baseline and 1 day after the end of each of the treatment series. Direct comparison between sham and real rTMS effects showed no significant difference in clinician-assessed dyskinesia severity. However, comparison with the baseline showed small but significant reduction in dyskinesia severity following real rTMS but not placebo. The major effect was on dystonia subscore. Similarly, in patient diaries, although both treatments caused reduction in subjective dyskinesia scores during the days of intervention, the effect was sustained for 3 days after the intervention for the real rTMS only. Following rTMS, no side effects and no adverse effects on motor function and PD symptoms were noted. The results suggest the existence of residual beneficial clinical aftereffects of consecutive daily applications of low-frequency rTMS on dyskinesias in PD. The effects may be further exploited for potential therapeutic uses. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society [source]


Long-term effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor function recovery after acute ischemic stroke

ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2010
E. M. Khedr
Objective,,, Although there is evidence for short term benefits of rTMS in stroke, longer term effects have not been reported. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of two different frequencies of rTMS on motor recovery and on cortical excitability up to 1 year post-treatment. Methods,,, Forty-eight patients with acute ischemic stroke were randomly classified into three groups. The first two groups received real rTMS over motor cortex (3 and 10 Hz respectively) of the affected hemisphere and the third group received sham stimulation of the same site, daily for five consecutive days. Disability was assessed before, after fifth sessions, and then after 1, 2, 3 and 12 months. Cortical excitability was assessed for both hemispheres before and after the second and fifth sessions. Results,,, A significant ,rTMS × time' interaction was obtained indicating that real and sham rTMS had different effects on rating scales. This was because real rTMS produced greater improvement than sham that was evident even at one year follow-up. These improvements were associated with changes in cortical excitability over the period of treatment. Conclusion,,, These results confirm that real rTMS over motor cortex can enhance and maintain recovery and may be a useful add on therapy in treatment of acute stroke patients. [source]


Treatment of post-stroke dysphagia with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2009
E. M. Khedr
Background,,, Up to one-third of patients experience swallowing problems in the period immediately after a stroke. Objective,,, To investigate the therapeutic effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on post-stroke dysphagia. Materials and methods,,, Twenty-six patients with post-stroke dysphagia due to monohemispheric stroke were randomly allocated to receive real (n = 14) or sham (n = 12) rTMS of the affected motor cortex. Each patient received a total of 300 rTMS pulses at an intensity of 120% hand motor threshold for five consecutive days. Clinical ratings of dysphagia and motor disability were assessed before and immediately after the last session and then again after 1 and 2 months. The amplitude of the motor-evoked potential (MEP) evoked by single-pulse TMS was also assessed before and at 1 month in 16 of the patients. Results,,, There were no significant differences between patients who received real rTMS and the sham group in age, hand grip strength, Barthel Index or degree of dysphagia at the baseline assessment. Real rTMS led to a significantly greater improvement compared with sham in dysphagia and motor disability that was maintained over 2 months of follow-up. This was accompanied by a significant increase in the amplitude of the oesophageal MEP evoked from either the stroke or non-stroke hemisphere. Conclusion,,, rTMS may be a useful adjunct to conventional therapy for dysphagia after stroke. [source]